Chapter 40
As everyone prepared to leave Orntali for the Spellid Mountains, Kaid couldn’t help but watch the ocean waves from his window.
Was it right for him to leave the shoreline? Shouldn’t he stay and help protect Naltania?
Kaid had gone from never having responsibilities to being the heir of a siren nation and the Northern Seas.
He turned to the desk and sealed the envelope he had written to his father explaining that he must come to Orntali immediately. Kaid was still processing the news about his family and upbringing, and honestly, talking with his father would help him interpret the gray areas, he hoped.
Kaid brought the letter down to the foyer where an attendant took it to be transported. Everyone else came down shortly after, all with packs in tow.
Asta was in black, wraithlike leathers and Kaid’s heart sputtered. She was magnificent. He only hoped that after this was done, they would have their happily ever after.
Soren came trotting over with a kick in his step, grinning. “Ready to leave?”
It was still odd seeing him and Revna with legs instead of fins.
Soren could not stop raving about how wonderful it was to be on land for the time being.
He had not returned to land since he was turned as a young boy and it was apparent.
The male siren had gone around sniffing every flower, every candle, every food dish he could find.
Gyrial grabbed his bag as well as Asta’s and stepped out the front door.
“Show off,” Kaid grumbled, following the crowd out the door.
Asta rode on Thurs, but the dapple mare was the only kelpie who joined them on the journey. The others would not tolerate a saddle of any sort, which was why they only allowed the sirens to ride them underwater where they could grasp onto their manes for support.
The blonde princess rode at the front with Gyrial which did nothing but grate on Kaid’s nerves.
Kaid rode next to Soren who had taken to humming cheerful melodies while pointing out every bird and woodland creature he saw.
Revna and Tova rode in the back in silence, which Kaid was sure was killing Tova since she was typically quite chatty.
Asta was avoiding Kaid. He just knew it.
This was what she did. Every time they got close, she would pull back.
Kaid supposed it was to protect herself due to his dating history, but he had done everything he could think of to prove to her that she was it for him, so what more did she need?
Well, he had three long days to think about it while she giggled and joked with her male best friend.
The night was fairly uneventful. Kaid’s turn for watch was spent with Revna who occupied her time by carving a thick branch with her dagger until the wood came to a lethal point. As if the siren warrior needed any weapons to kill.
Asta’s watch was spent with Soren, who Kaid could hear asking the princess about all of the changes that had happened to the land kingdoms since his departure.
“I’d love to breed someday, so I can take my partner and youngling on land and show them everything that is missing in Naltania. It’s wonderful, but not the same. Muted in comparison,” Soren whispered.
“We will make that happen for you, Soren,” Asta concluded.
Kaid didn’t get much sleep. His bed roll was lumpy no matter how many times he punched it and his wool tunic did nothing to keep the night chill away.
He would have considered wrapping an arm around Asta while she slept, but she opted to lay her bed roll between Soren and Gyrial.
Soren had given Kaid an apologetic look as Asta smoothed out her roll on the ground.
After traveling all day in silence the following day, Kaid couldn’t take it anymore. He came up with a plan.
Soren and Gyrial took first watch that night and Kaid knew Asta was next on the rotation with Tova.
As difficult as it was after not sleeping the night prior, Kaid forced himself to stay awake and wait for the shift swap.
He heard Gyrial wake Asta, and peeking through cracked eyes, saw the fae male gently rub Asta’s shoulder as she came to.
Their soft, mumbled words were indistinguishable as the blonde princess sat up and stretched her arms above her head.
Tova was already starting to stand when Kaid popped up and tapped her. “I can take this watch. I can’t sleep anyway,” he told her.
Tova’s brow furrowed. “You sure?”
Kaid nodded. “No point in me tossing and turning through an entire shift when someone else could rest instead. Sleep.”
The sea dragon did not need any more persuading as she nodded and laid back down.
Kaid stood and brushed the dirt off his pants, then plopped onto the fallen log in front of the small fire. It was mostly embers now, wanting to keep the bright light of a flame away to attract less attention.
Asta sat down next to Kaid, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Hopefully, she was sleeping better than he was.
“Where’s Tova?” Asta asked as she poked at the hot coals with a stick.
Kaid shifted his torso to turn toward her. “I told her to keep sleeping. I’m awake anyway.”
Asta nodded, keeping her eyes on the fire pit, but Kaid knew she was watching him in her peripheral vision.
“What are we doing, Asta?” Kaid whispered tersely.
She snapped her gaze to his, the corners of her mouth turned down. “You tell me.”
Kaid pulled back, confusion etched across his face. “Have I not made it apparent since that night in the cave? Have I not been honest enough with my feelings and intentions? Honestly, Asta, I’m not sure what it is you’re holding against me so, please, enlighten me.”
“You expect me to believe your word when I’ve heard the stories about how you are? You come to my home, expecting to marry my sister, and I should believe you with full faith when you say that you are instead interested in me now? Not only that, but you plan on only being with me now?”
“I cannot—” Kaid stopped himself, realizing that the volume of his voice was rising.
He pulled in a deep breath and released it slowly, this time speaking in a more hushed tone.
“I cannot make you believe that I am truly trying if you don’t give me a chance.
You need to stop shutting me out every time we get close. People can change, Asta.”
“People don’t change that quickly,” she replied curtly.
Kaid scrubbed a hand over his chin. “They do if it matters. They do if everything they have been searching for is within their reach, and it only requires them being a better person in order to grasp it. And as for your sister, I believe it’s quite evident that any prior arrangements were nullified when I learned that she was a homicidal fish person that subsequently held me captive. ”
Asta blinked. “Technically, I’m a homicidal fish person now, too.”
“You are. But a very cute, very alluring one,” Kaid nudged her shoulder with his and grinned.
Asta’s eyes narrowed but the corners of her mouth tilted upward a bit. “Don’t be endearing. I’m trying to be serious.”
“Oh, I am being serious.” Asta had begun popping her knuckles and he grabbed her hand. “My seductive, lethal siren princess.” He kissed the back of her hand. “My wraith of land and sea.” He kissed her wrist. “My everything, from now until the day I drift to the seafloor, never to return.”
The princess’s breathing hitched and she pulled her wrist away, setting it back in her lap.
“I rescued you because I want to believe you. Do not make me a fool for it.” She reached up and brushed a piece of his dark hair from his forehead.
“Also, I’m not a siren princess. I’m a siren, and also a princess. ”
“Not yet,” Kaid smirked. He planned to change that someday very soon. Yes, he would marry this female and she would join him to rule in his ocean palace.
A branch snapped somewhere in the surrounding forest and Asta was instantaneously at her feet, sword in hand.
Kaid slowly stood, observing their surroundings.
He could not see anything, but the dense coverage of leaves overhead made it impossible to see very far beyond their camp perimeter.
They stood for several moments, not hearing another sound.
“Probably an animal,” Kaid whispered.
They both sat down and finished their watch shift in silence.